PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine met with the Foreign Ministers of the Netherlands and Germany

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 10 May 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra who are on a visit to our country.

The President praised the comprehensive support provided by the Netherlands and Germany to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

“Personal visits to Kyiv are an important gesture of solidarity with Ukraine on the part of your states – our allies and partners,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.

The key attention during the meeting was paid to the further practical support of Ukraine by Germany and the Netherlands in the fight against Russian aggression, in particular in the field of defense.

“We have to win the fight for common values. It is through joint efforts with European partners, the European family, that we can win. Protect our citizens, our territories,” the President of Ukraine stressed.

The Head of State noted the clear position of the Netherlands and Germany on strengthening EU sanctions on Russia. He expressed hope that the sixth package of EU sanctions on Russia, which contains an oil embargo, would be approved immediately.

There was also a substantive exchange of views on Ukraine’s European integration. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked for the high level of public support in the Netherlands and Germany for our country’s membership in the EU and stressed that the immediate granting of candidate status will be a recognition of the contribution of Ukraine and Ukrainians to the protection of European values.

The issues of economic support for our state in the conditions of Russian aggression were also discussed during the meeting. The President invited the Netherlands and Germany to join the reconstruction of Ukraine, in particular as part of the initiative of patronage over Ukrainian regions or sectors of the economy.

The Head of State stressed the importance of developing an international plan for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, similar to the historic Marshall Plan.